A new α-oxoaldehyde reagent, 2, 2-bis (ethylthio) ethanal 1, has been prepared in high yield from ethanedial. Alkylation of the potassium salt of the enamines of 1 with various alkylating agents followed by in situ hydrolysis of the intermediate imine afforded high yields of the alkylation products of 1. This new reagent was used in the synthesis of a chiral potential precursor of the macrocyclic fragment of cytochalasins A, B, and F, as well as in the ...
